Question

 At 21，Ricardo Semler became boss of his father's business in Brazil，Semco，which sold parts for ships. Semler Junior worked like a mad man，from 7：30 am，until midnight every day. One afternoon，while touring a factory in New York，he broke down. The doctor who treated him said，"There's nothing wrong with you. But if you continue like this, you'll find a new home in our hospital. "Semler got the message. He changed the way he worked. In fact，he changed the ways his employees worked too.

    He let his workers take more responsibility so that they would be the ones worrying when things went wrong. He allowed them to set their own salaries，and he cut all the jobs he thought were unnecessary，like receptionists and secretaries. This saved money and brought more equality(平等）to the company. "Everyone at Semco，even top managers，meets guests in reception，does the photocopying，sends faxes，types letters and dials the phone."

    He completely reorganized the office：instead of walls，they have plants at Semco，so bosses can't shut themselves away from everyone else. And the workers are free to decorate their workspace as they want. As for uniforms，some people wear suits and others wear T-shirts.

    Semco has flexible （灵活的）working hours：the employees decide when they need to arrive at work. Also，Semco lets its workers use the company's machines for their own projects，and makes them take holidays for at least thirty days a year.

    It sounds perfect，but does it work? The answer is in the numbers：in the last six years，Semco's revenues （收入）have gone from $35 million to $212 million. The company has grown from eight hundred employees to 3，000. Why?

    Semler says it's because of "peer pressure". Peer pressure makes employees work hard for everyone else. If someone isn't doing his job well，the other workers will not allow the situation to continue. In other words，Ricardo Semler treats his workers like adults rather than children, and expects them to act like responsible adults. And they do.

1.Why did Semler change the way he and his employees worked?

A. Because he went crazy because of overwork.

B. Because he had to receive treatment in hospital.

C. Because his father asked him to.

D. Because the doctor warned him of the danger of overwork.

2.Semler made a variety of changes in his company Except that__________.

A. the number of the employees is reduced to save money

B. the employees can take only 30 days off for holiday every year.

C. flexible working hours were introduced       

D. the employees enjoyed a lot of freedom

3.What’s the main idea of Paragraph five?

A. Ricardo Semler’s new management method succeeded.

B. Ricardo Semler’s idea sounded perfect but not practical.

C. The company earned a lot of money.        

D. The reason for his success.

4.In his company, what does Ricardo Semler value most?

A. freedom          B. rules           C. responsibility        D. hard work

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：本篇文章讲述了Ricardo Semler的故事。他在接手父亲的公司后，拼命工作，结果身体一度垮掉。于是他改变了自己的管理方式，给了员工更多的自由，也使他们有了更多的责任意识，培养了他们负责的态度，由此公司无论从规模上，还是效益上都有了显著的增长。

1.D细节理解题。根据文章首段内容可知Semler 因工作过度而身体一度垮掉，于是他接受了医生的警告“got the message. He changed the way he worked. In fact，he changed the ways his employees worked too.”，从而改变了自己以及员工的工作方式。所以答案选D。

2.B细节理解题。从文章第二段可知Semler裁掉了秘书、接待员等缩减了人员开支，还允许雇员自主安排办公环境、自己制定工资标准，给了他们更多的自由，根据第四段Semco has flexible （灵活的）working hours可知他们的工作时间更为灵活，由此可知A、C、D选项内容正确，而B选项内容文中没有涉及，故答案选B。

3.A主旨大意题。本段开头提出中心问题but does it work? ，然后用公司收入和员工人数增长的数字进行说明，由此可知本段内容是讲述他管理模式的成功，答案选A。

4.C推理判断题。根据文章末段and expects them to act like responsible adults. And they do.可知Semler的管理措施为的是培养员工的责任感，故答案选C。

考点：考查故事类短文阅读。